Bag it? HEB wants to save the bags. (San Antonio, Austin: buying, litigation)

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by dastexan

Well my point is that its simply a pure profit incentive for the various companies. You get less service every day.

Places like Whole Foods, Target et al; they offer incentives for using your own bags, why? Because not only is it good for the environment but it is good for the companies bottom line.

If a place like HEB truly cared more than lip service about the environment, they would truly encourage people to use reusable bags by speaking to their wallets.

Else they will say they care, when in reality when you add up the few pennies per bag, it ends up putting money in their pockets.

There is a reason why they want people to use less bags. Its not strictly environmental. I'd say at best, its 50% the reason, though I'd bet its much less.

When the Austin ban went into effect HEB gave away free reusable bags...

[Austinite101]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

When the Austin ban went into effect HEB gave away free reusable bags...

Target and a few other big name retailers did as well. As did many smaller businesses.

[dastexan]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

When the Austin ban went into effect HEB gave away free reusable bags...

So what you are saying is that if San Antonio were to enact this, HEB would give out free reusable bags?

What was the limit on this?

How long did they do this and how many could you get at once?

Its an interesting argument, but in the end like with everything else, the consumer will end up footing the bill.

You get less and you pay more for it. Sounds about right.

Capitalism 101 w/ government involvement.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by dastexan

So what you are saying is that if San Antonio were to enact this, HEB would give out free reusable bags?

What was the limit on this?

How long did they do this and how many could you get at once?
.

A few years ago, HEB in San Antonio was giving out free bags in the stores. Not sure how long it lasted, maybe a month or so. I have about 25 bags at least, varying styles/quality. Except for 2 I bought at Trader Joe's c. 1989, 1 I bought at Stop N Shop c. 1994, and 1 I bought at Sun Harvest c. 2005, all have been FREE. There are so many places giving out free canvas bags all the time. I do like the ones I bought the best, as they are the best quality (evidenced by how long I've had them), but it's easy to find free bags if you want them.

I could care less about 5 cents. I suspect most of the Whole Foods shoppers who bring their own bags could also care less. I normally shop at Central Market, and see loads of people with their own bags, despite the lack of incentive.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by dastexan

So what you are saying is that if San Antonio were to enact this, HEB would give out free reusable bags?

What was the limit on this?

How long did they do this and how many could you get at once?

Its an interesting argument, but in the end like with everything else, the consumer will end up footing the bill.

You get less and you pay more for it. Sounds about right.

Capitalism 101 w/ government involvement.

But we can only blame ourselves or in our example the people of Austin since they voted in the people who wanted to pass this ordnance. Will help the appearance of Austin? Slightly...

[dastexan]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

But we can only blame ourselves or in our example the people of Austin since they voted in the people who wanted to pass this ordnance. Will help the appearance of Austin? Slightly...

Oh I agree completely on that front. As with every other government measure where the consumer ends up getting the short end of shaft.

Of course in San Antonio's case (dont know about voting in Austin) but its the majority of the VERY, VERY, VERY SMALL minority that decides who gets to make these decisions.

But naturally, nobody ever talks about that in terms of consequences of not actually giving a damn about voting.

[Bo]

If we ever get Aldi stores here, folks will learn to appreciate the free bags and bagging at the stores we have now.

[Azure110]

Aldi's and HEB are not even in the same category. While both sell groceries, Aldi's is to HEB as Dollar General is to Target.

I do wish we had Aldi's here. It would be nice.

[Littlelu]

Wal-Mart has bags 2 for $1.00....so we can easily afford them. A lot of stores have them for 99c. I have accumulated about 6 bags which is more than sufficient for my single status needs!

[Camper1]

Originally Posted by Littlelu

Wal-Mart has bags 2 for $1.00....so we can easily afford them. A lot of stores have them for 99c. I have accumulated about 6 bags which is more than sufficient for my single status needs!

IMO, I hate walmart bags. Had to many just flat tear.